Azerbaijan's Sabah, with Kazakhstan's Stas Pokatilov in goal, suffered a 1-2 defeat to Borussia Dortmund in the third round of the main Champions League 2026/27 tournament. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

The start of the match at the Olympic Stadium in Baku was bewildering for the hosts. In the 10th minute, Felix Nmecha shot from the edge of the penalty area, Pokatilov parried the ball, but Guinean Serhou Guirassy was first to the rebound – 1-0.

Later, Pokatilov, who was included in the Champions League Team of the Round for the second matchday, repeatedly saved his team. In the 24th minute, the Sabah captain leaped and fingertipped away a ball sent by Dutchman Joey Veerman. He immediately got up and kicked away a shot from Austrian Carney Chukwuemeka.

Feeling confidence behind them, Valdas Dambrauskas's charges increasingly troubled the overly complacent visitors. The first goal for the Baku side was disallowed by Spanish referee Javier Alberola due to offside. In the 39th minute, South African Aden McCarthy scored according to all the rules – 1-1.

Having received a portion of criticism from their Croatian coach Niko Kovač in the dressing room, the Germans increased their speed and became more active in the fight for the ball. In the 53rd minute, Guirassy, having received a measured cross from the flank by Veerman, fired point-blank into Pokatilov's goal – 2-1.

Towards the end of the match, the game leveled out again. Sabah was close to equalizing for the second time on several occasions. However, the visitors preserved the victory.

⚽ SABAH (Baku, Azerbaijan) – BORUSSIA (Dortmund, Germany) 1:2 (1:1). Goals: Guirassy 10 (0:1), McCarthy 39 (1:1), Guirassy 53 (1:2)

In the first round of the Champions League, Pokatilov's Sabah lost away to Manchester United – 0-4. In the second, they defeated Czech Slavia – 2-0.

Between his Champions League debut and the match with the Prague side, the 33-year-old Pokatilov played two Nations League matches for the Kazakhstan national team. Against the Faroe Islands (1-1) and Slovakia (1-2).

The remaining matches of the third round of the Champions League 2026/27 will be played today and tomorrow.

Each of the 36 teams will play 8 matches against different opponents in the main round of the Champions League. The top 8 clubs from the overall table will advance directly to the Round of 16.

Teams occupying places from 9th to 24th will participate in play-off matches for the right to play in the Round of 16. Moreover, clubs from 9th to 16th will be seeded in the play-off draw. Teams occupying places 25-36 are eliminated from the tournament.

Kazakhstan's Kairat, which played in the Champions League last season, did not make it to the main tournament of the main European cup this time. Rafael Urazbakhtin's charges started the Conference League on October 15 with an away draw (1-1) against Riga.